Illinois Nature Preserves Commission approves nature preserve, land and water reserve designations    

[JAN. 17, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois residents will benefit from expanded recreational and educational opportunities, as the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission announced on Jan. 10 the dedication of two nature preserves, additions to two nature preserves and approval of four land and water reserve registrations. The expansions are being made with the approval of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

"The commission's actions add more than 700 acres of important habitat for threatened and endangered species of plants and animals to the list of lands in Illinois that now have enhanced, long-term protection as nature preserves or land and water reserves," said Don McFall, acting director of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

Areas dedicated as nature preserves may be used for activities including hiking, wildlife viewing, nature photography and approved scientific research. Areas registered as land and water reserves may be used for the same activities, along with fishing, hunting and other approved activities that do not damage the natural features of the protected area. Activities are allowed at nature preserves and land and water reserves only with the permission of the private or public landowner.

Working with the landowner, the nine-member Illinois Nature Preserves Commission determines whether an area warrants protection as a nature preserve or as a land and water reserve. After approval by the landowner and the commission, the director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the governor must also approve nature preserves. Land and water reserves require the approval of the landowner, the commission and the director of the Department of Natural Resources.

Since 1964, Illinois has dedicated 323 nature preserves in 80 counties, totaling 43,681 acres, and has registered 113 land and water reserves in 53 counties, totaling 34,459 acres.

Landowners interested in preserving high-quality natural lands through nature preserve dedication or land and water reserve registration should contact the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; phone [phone], via voice-TTY relay [phone] or TTY [phone].

Nature preserve dedications

DeWitt County -- Mettler Woods Nature Preserve

Mettler Woods, owned by The Nature Conservancy, is an approximately 70.7-acre site, which includes the 65-acre Mettler Woods Natural Area, recognized for an outstanding example of dry-mesic upland forest supporting large canopy trees such as white oak, bur oak and shagbark hickory. Watercourses at Mettler Woods drain into Salt Creek Natural Area, located within one mile to the south. Contact person: Tom Lerczak, [phone].

Cook County -- addition to Gensburg-Markham Prairie Nature Preserve

The Nature Conservancy proposed the dedication of a 3.81-acre addition to Gensburg-Markham Prairie Nature Preserve. The nature preserve is part of the Indian Boundary Prairies, a surviving remnant of a vast prairie that once extended along Lake Michigan in the Chicago area. Collectively, 462.59 acres of the Indian Boundary Prairies have been included on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, with portions of four of the prairies -- Sundrop Prairie, 54.9 acres; Gensburg-Markham Prairie, 118.2 acres; Paintbrush Prairie, 75.2 acres; and Dropseed Prairie, 9.2 acres -- totaling 257.5 acres dedicated as Illinois nature preserves. Dedication of this 3.81-acre addition increases the size of Gensburg-Markham Prairie Nature Preserve from 118.2 to 122.01 acres. Contact person: Steven Byers, [phone].

Cook County -- addition to Sundrop Prairie Nature Preserve

The Nature Conservancy proposed the dedication of this 36.3-acre addition to Sundrop Prairie Nature Preserve, another part of the Indian Boundary Prairies along Lake Michigan in the Chicago area. This 36.3-acre addition increases the size of Sundrop Prairie Nature Preserve from 54.9 to 91.2 acres. Contact person: Steven Byers, [phone].

Randolph County -- Prairie of the Rock Nature Preserve

The Prairie of the Rock Nature Preserve, owned by J.W. "Bill" Gonterman, is a 15-acre bluff-top parcel overlooking the Mississippi River floodplain and the town of Prairie du Rocher. The nature preserve contains loess hill prairie, limestone cliff community and dry-mesic upland forest habitat.

Land and water reserve registrations

Hancock County -- Cedar Glen Land and Water Reserve

The Nature Conservancy sought land and water reserve protection for three separate tracts, totaling 269.54 acres, as Cedar Glen Land and Water Reserve. The parcel is part of the 3,845-acre Cedar Glen Kibbe Natural Area. Significant features of the land and water reserve include high-quality dry-mesic barren habitat and a portion of the severe weather winter roost for the federally and state-listed threatened bald eagle. The land and water reserve also complements the dedication of the 50.5-acre addition to the Cedar Glen Nature Preserve outlined above. Contact person: Angella Moorehouse, [phone].

Jo Daviess County -- Hanover Bluff Land and Water Reserve

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources sought the registration of 187.55 acres of the 249.47-acre Hanover Bluff State Natural Area as Hanover Bluff Land and Water Reserve. This site is located in western Jo Daviess County. The eastern border of the new land and water reserve also includes a portion of the Apple River recognized for a high-diversity mussel bed. Eighteen species of live mussels were sampled within this stretch of the Apple River during 2001, including the state-listed threatened black sandshell. Contact person: Angella Moorehouse, [phone].

Pope County -- Culley Barrens Land and Water Reserve

The Culley Barrens Land and Water Reserve, owned by Mrs. Kitty Culley, is a 50.77-acre parcel located in the Shawnee Hills. It features barrens, dry-mesic upland forest, pasture, old field and sandstone cliff overhang habitat. Contact person: Bob Edgin, [phone].

Vermilion County -- addition to Little Vermilion River Land and Water Reserve

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources sought registration for 73 acres, in two tracts, as an addition to Little Vermilion River Land and Water Reserve. The existing Little Vermilion River Land and Water Reserve is 869 acres within the Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area in Vermilion County in east central Illinois. The site contains upland and floodplain forest habitat and supports 11 state-listed endangered or threatened species. The addition provides direct protection and buffer to four populations of two listed species, fibrous-rooted sedge and false hellebore, and a heron rookery. The addition brings the total acreage of the land and water reserve to 942 acres. Contact person: Mary Kay Solecki, [phone].

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